PHILADELPHIA -- Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball, which stopped at Wells Fargo Center for a nearly sold-out show Tuesday and returns tonight, was a spectacle that, at two hours long, offered enough for everyone to find something they liked.

Photos by Emily Robson/The Morning Call

Gaga wore at least nine costumes – such as an elaborate white feather-duster dress from which she sprouted wings and, during “So Happy I Could Die,” flew high above the crowd. But in each case, she pretty quickly stripped down to, as she said, “a blond bitch running around in her underwear.”

She had, at times, as many as 20 people on stage – more than a dozen dancers, her band and herself.

There were a half-dozen elaborate stage settings: One with a full-sized car (with a keyboard under the hood), a piano with real flames leaping out of the middle of it, a subway car, a spooky Central Park with large trees, and a smoky white “heavenly”scene for the finish.

And she sang 18 songs – sometimes flat on her back on stage, (on “Monster” and “Teeth”) -- plus an interlude of scat singing while playing the piano with her booted foot.

But amidst all the flamboyancy, her best songs of the night by far were ones that stripped away most of that. Halfway through the show, at the burning piano, “Speechless” showed that Gaga has a very rich and disciplined voice, and it was cool that she stood on her bench and the piano keys to play. Her voice also was very good on “You and I,” a song off her completed-but-not-released new album.

About that singing: Halfway through the show, before the stripped songs, Gaga made it a point to say she doesn’t lip sync: “I pledge to sing every single note live,” she said, and 45 minutes later repeated it.

But she at very least sang to her own backing vocals early in the show: When she spoke, she let out loud breaths you didn’t hear while she was “singing,” and she seemed to yell asides to the crowd over her own voice.

And about the album.She repeatedly let it be known it’s called “Born This Way,” which often led into long , spoken interludes: about the fact that she created The Monster Ball to “set you free. I created it so my fanswould have a place to go. A place where all the freaks are outside,” about how she was picked on in school “but you made me brave,” about her support of gay rights.

Shealso spoke about the fact that she won eight MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, though she got the day wrong, saying, “What you did for me last night was so special.” She caught herself, and explainedthat she hasn’t slept in two days.

She also was unapologetic for the animal-rights controversy she started by wearing an outfit of red meat.“What’s everyone’s problem with my [darned] meat dress?” she said. “Next time I’ll wear my tofu dress.”

Gaga did so much talking that, with breaksfor costume changes and film segments shown on a huge screen, there was actually 75 minutes of music in the two-hour show.

As could be expected – it was, after all, a Lady Gaga show – the concert a very heavy sex quotient, much of it raunchy.

In addition to her revealing outfits, Gaga groped a male dancer’s crotch and sang on her back on the stage as a male dancer grinded above her. Dancers in only tighty-whities rubbed their own crotches and writhed around each other. At one point, Gaga urged men in the audience to get out their genitals because “I heard there’s some pretty big [ones] in Philadelphia.”

Even the usual beach balls bouncing around the crowd were blown up condoms.

There was so much going on that, even with its loose story of Gaga taking the audience to “The Monster Ball,” the show often had a mish-mash feelof trying to be everything. Too often, Gaga reveled in being famous for being famous rather than for her musical ability, which issubstantial.

But it all came together for the two encores.

For a six-minute “Paparazzi,” she battled a huge fish with tentacles as sparks shot out of her breasts. Then she returned for a five-minute “Bad Romance” on which her singing was almost choral and had the crowd –many of whom, like Gaga, were in full costume for the show, moving in virtual ecstasy.

WOW...people actually paid money to see that? It takes all kinds, I guess.

Posted By: cAh | Sep 15, 2010 11:12:53 AM

It was the best show I've ever been to, yes it was raunchy, but thats who she is, the person that wrote this is clearly not a Gaga fan, which i don't condemn, to each it own. But this show was for her fans, and not one will tell you it was any of the things you wrote. It was wonderful, and talking to the crowd shows how much she loves her fans, if i just wanted to hear her sing i would just play my iPod. And yes people Do pay money to see this, and lots too, 2 almost sold out shows back to back in Philly, humm I wonder.

Posted By: Lola | Sep 15, 2010 12:07:45 PM

GODga is a true, well rounded artist. For the first time in about a decade, someone mainstream comes along who can actually write music, perform live (autotune and lip synching is for pussies), play instruments, actually give a flying rats ass about those who pay to see her. She truly is entertaining.

And screw peta. PETAKILLSANIMALS.COM.

Anyone who disagrees probably is against for what she stands for (gay rights) and has bad musical taste (every single person topping today's charts anyone?).

Posted By: monsturrrrrrr | Sep 15, 2010 12:15:45 PM

As I sit here reading this column I am left wondering is it Lady Gaga who people find disgusting or the message she preaches? Preaching is a good term to describe this artist and her show last night. As I watched her show I was struck by how she had the entire arena jumping up and down, putting their hands up, and singing all at her command. I have seen many of the greatest contemporary artist of the past 3 decades, I am 42. I have never in all my shows seen a performer have such control over their audience. It was at times almost like the cult of Gaga.
That brings up another point. All those people in the arena respond and relate to her and her message. One of unity without predudice, without color, without labels, or sexual orientation. So many people feeling the same way. Do you reject Gaga or the views she stands for?
I would have to rate this show as one of the best I have seen! It was good artistry mixed with Broadway avant garde. It is rare in any era to find an artist that polarizes the masses the way Lady Gaga has. You either love her or hate her. Say what you will this woman is here to stay and it will be an interesting ride to see what she does next.

Posted By: Yoda | Sep 15, 2010 12:47:03 PM

I'm going to tonight's show in Philly...anyone know if there is an opening act?

Thanks!
:-)

Posted By: Lisa | Sep 15, 2010 1:02:52 PM

Semi Precious Weapons. Lady Gaga Show will start 9 pm or later.

Posted By: Yoda | Sep 15, 2010 1:37:02 PM

I simply love love love the way peop[le make a shank rich.............Good luck people she keeps getting richer thanks to the morons that go and watch her or buy her music.........LMAO

Posted By: jerseygurl | Sep 15, 2010 2:10:44 PM

Well the comments on here prove that "suckers" are born every minute!

Posted By: cAh | Sep 15, 2010 3:31:28 PM

If you don't like Lady Gaga, noone cares!!!She is the best singer, song writer, performer, artist and visionary of this time!! Her concert was too amazing to even explain, you just had to be there. I want to see her again!!!

As a show, it was very slick and professional. Gaga herself was actually not too dirty or overtly sexual. However, there was, in my opinion, just far too much homoerotisism.

Posted By: KHL | Sep 16, 2010 5:10:16 AM

what time did she on on stage? Im going to see her in CT tonight!

Posted By: nancy | Sep 16, 2010 11:52:38 AM

Okay, let's see if I have this correct:

Singing for 75 minutes with another 45 minutes of chatter, at GaGa's level, is infinitely superior to neophyte Adam Lambert's singing for 65 minutes straight, no chatter.

Care to compare the ticket prices?

Posted By: DB | Sep 16, 2010 4:02:07 PM

one of the 5 best shows i ever saw
ranks right with
the Stones/Stevie Wonder in Philly early to mid 70's
Who/Skynyrd Philly early to mid 70's
MJ on the Bad tour at the Garden in 87
Prince / Time 1999 tour at the Tower in 83

Posted By: tn | Sep 16, 2010 11:05:37 PM

I went to the Lady Gaga concert on Wednesday night. I took 4 teenagers. They loved it. But then again teenagers love almost anything. I am old enough to be Lady Gaga's mother. I am a Madonna fan from way back. Same stuff different generation except Madonna had more class on stage. Lady Gaga is phenomenal. She can SING. She has an amazing voice. When she sat at the piano & sang Speechless, I was speechless. What I can't understand is why she has to add all that ridiculous vulgarity with it. She doesn't need to do that, she has it. She has what it takes to be an awesome entertainer. Her fan base is about 15 year olds & up. My teenagers tell me "that's who she is". Well, I'm not so sure she really has the confidence to know who she really is. Anyone who has to swear & do vulgar acts on stage is insecure about who they really are & how talented they are. She sings & dances, fantastically & then has to swear every other word to make sure she shocks the fans enough to have them go crazy with applause. I was disappointed when she layed down on the stage saying "Oh, Jesus, thank you for my fans, Jesus you made all the transsexuals & all the gays who they are, thank you Jesus for the this & thank you Jesus for that." That's great that she said that, that in itself shows these young fans that the great "Lady Gaga" believes in Jesus & I think that great but why follow it up with f--- this and b---& sh---. Also, the act on stage was stupid. Why have these guys shove dildos down their pants & have the other dancers kneel in front of the with their tongues out? That's not entertaninment, that's borderline pornographic. Go buy a porn flick if you want to see that stuff. And she definately needs a new opening act. Semi Precious Weapons was so amateur. What a jerk the lead singer was. I laughed at how much he was embarrassing himself. When he finished a song, the crowd hardly applauded. He was BEGGING the audience for applause. He sucked that bad. I then he got naked on the stage so he could change clothes, well, he did have tiny g-string on. That's all he needed to cover what he packs. Then he tells the audience that he'll sign CD's after the show. I laughed so hard, who the hell would want that garbage? Lady Gaga is a great entertainer, but because of the vulgar way she acts onstage, I will never go see another one of her concerts again (my kids asked me to take them to AC in Feb-NOT) to see another show. I will buy her music, but not watch her perform. I saw kids a little as 5 years old coming into that concert. That's sad.

JOHN J. MOSER has been around long enough to have seen the original Ramones in a small club in New Jersey, U2 from the fourth row of a theater and Bob Dylan's born-again tours. But he also has the number for All-American Rejects' Nick Wheeler on his cell phone, wrote the first story ever done on Jack's Mannequin and hung out in Wiz Khalifa's hotel room.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

JODI DUCKETT: As The Morning Call's assistant features editor responsible for entertainment, she spends a lot of time surveying the music landscape and sizing up the Valley's festivals and club scene. She's no expert, but enjoys it all — especially artists who resonated in her younger years, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Tracy Chapman, Santana and Joni Mitchell.

KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS enjoys all types of music, from roots rock and folk to classical and opera. Music has been a constant backdrop to her life since she first sat on the steps listening to her mother’s Broadway LPs when she was 2. Since becoming a mother herself, she has become well-versed on the growing genre of kindie rock and, with her son in tow, can boast she has seen a majority of the current kid’s performers from Dan Zanes to They Might Be Giants.

STEPHANIE SIGAFOOS: A Jersey native raised in Northeast PA, she was reared in a house littered with 8-tracks, 45s and cassette tapes of The Beatles, Elvis, Meatloaf and Billy Joel. She also grew up on the sounds of Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw and can be found traversing the countryside in search of the sounds of a steel guitar. A fan of today's 'new country,' she digs mainstream/country-pop crossovers like Lady Antebellum and Sugarland and other artists that illustrate the genre's diversity.